Weather and carpet strip



Reb E, w38;

L. E. VQORHEES WEATHER AND CARPET STRIP Filed May lO, 1937 INV WGS

Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to weather strips and carpet strips applicable to closures, and particularly to the type closing the entire space between the lower edge of a door and its threshold.

One object of my invention is to improve the type of Weather and carpet strip which comprises a housing positioned at the lower portion of a door, and a, slidable member capable of being projected out of the housing to close and seal the entire space between the lower portion of the door and its threshold when the door is closed, and capable of being retractedrinto the housing when the door is opened morder to enable the lower edge of the4 door to clear rugs, carpets, etc.,

disposed betweenthe floor `and the door.

Another object of my invention is to provide a weather strip with telescoping side walls, and a horizontal cross section substantially identical with the horizontal cross section of the lower marginal portion of the closure with which it coacts to vary the distance between the closure and its threshold, without detracting from the artistic design and aesthetic appearance of the closure and its surrounding structure.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a release spring coacting with the mechanism which operates the retractable drop member of the weather strip,rsaid spring being suiciently stiff tofinsurethe depression of said drop member into its position snugly contacting the threshold, and yet suiciently resilient so as to safeguard the mechanism against injury should the downward motion of said drop be obstructed Claims.

in any way as'would be the case if somev objectV comprises a plunger with a rotatable head contacting the curved vsurface of a plate mounted in vsaid jamb, the curvatureof the surface of said plate being such that the axis oftheplunger is always perpendicular to the surface of the plate at the point of contact of the plungers rotatable head, which results in a `smooth and frictionless application of the force which operates the weather strip as the closure is brought toits closed position. Y

"Another important-feature of the invention resides in a pantographically arranged linkage dev iee pivotallyl attached to andcooperatingV with (Cl. .Z-68) the housing member, sealing drop member and the linkage device operating member which coacts with the closure frame,` for Vrapidly projecting tne sealing drop member out oi the housing memberV when the closure approaches its closed position within its frame;

A further object of the invention residesv in the construction and positioning of the springs which support the retractable dropV member'in such a manner as to cause the end of said member nearest'to the hinge of the closure to move toward the threshold first as the closure is broughtA to its closed position, and to rise from the threshold last as the closure is opened, thus enabling the lower edge of the closure farthest from its hinged support to clear rugs or carpet abutting the threshold immediately below the closure when in its closed position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple, substantial and economical weather and carpet strip that will not mar the beauty of any building closure, and that may be installed on the closure by an unskilled person with ordinary tools and without requiring special and expensive millwork on the closure before installation of the weather strip.

Other novel features of my invention from a practical standpoint will be apparentas hereinafter illustrated and/ or described.

In the drawing wherein like numerals'represent like parts: Y

Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofV a portion of a swinging door type closure and its supporting framework showing the application of my invention thereto, and particularly the manner in which the plunger member co'acts with the curved plate mounted on the door frame jamb, f

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the preferred form of vmy invention with the web of the Fig. 3 is a fragmentary ielevational'view of the preferredform of my invention with one side of the housing and the retractable member cut away in order to permit a side view of the interior of the weather strip,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional View of the door and its associated framework jamb taken on line I-I of Fig. 1, except that the door is approaching its closed position illustrating in detail the coaction between the plunger member and the curved plate mounted ,on the jamb of the door frame, y

. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the front'edgel of a door equipped with the preferred form of my invention which shows the retractable drop member in its operated extended position in contact with the door sill, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional View of a door equipped with a form of my invention in which the flanges of the channel-shaped housing are formed by the comparatively thin sheet material of which the lower marginal portion of the door is constructed, with the web member of the housing removably attached to said iiange members. This figure also shows the retractable drop member in its completely retracted position within the housing.

In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, numeral I9 represents the common door type of closure fragmentarily illustrated. The lower marginal portion of the door is designated by numeral II. The rear hinged edge of the door is designated by numeral I2. The front edge of the door is designated by numeral I3. The lower edge of the door is designated by numeral I4. The rear edge I2 of the door is mounted to jamb I5 of the framework I6 by hinges, one of which is designated by numeral I1. The door swings over the iioor I8 and the sill I9. 'Ihe type of weather and carpet strip described herein is employed to close the entire space between the lower edge I4 of the door I9 and the sill or threshold I9 when the door is closed in its framework I6, and to leave sufficient space between its lower edge I4 and the floor I8 over which it swings to clear rugs, carpets, etc., disposed on the floor I 8.

This form of my invention consists of a weather and carpet strip represented in its entirety by numeral 29. The entire structure 29 is constructed as a self contained unit which is removably attached to the lower edge I4 of the door I9 and comprises a housing 2| and a retractable sealing member or drop 22 which movably telescopes within said housing in its retracted position and is capable of being projected out of said housing to contact its threshold or sill I9 and entirely and completely close the space between the lower edge of the door and the sill or floor as the case may be. My invention operates in effect to extend the lower marginal portion II of the door I9 downwardly to meet the threshold or sill I9.

The housing 2I is constructed from sheet metal or other suitable material formed in the shape of an elongated channel with a U-shaped cross section. The side walls or anges 23 and 24 of the housing are parallel and spaced apart so that their outer surfaces are flush with the sides of the lower marginal portion II of the door I9. A web 25 connects the upper edges of the side walls 23 and 24 and forms an integral part thereof. Side walls 23 and 24 are perpendicular to web 25. The upper outside edges 26 and 21 of the housing are sharply formed so that the side walls 23 and 24 are absolutely flush with the sides of the lower marginal portion I I of the door with no indenture whatever at the junction line 29. The ends ofthe housing 2| are enclosed by two parallel end walls 29 and 39 formed by bending projections of the web 25 downwardly and welding or otherwise securing the edges of the end walls formed thereby to the edges of the side walls 23 and 24 at3l, 32, 33 an 34. End walls 29 and 30 are perpendicular to web 25. Web 25 has holes 35 formed therein through which screws 36 are driven into the lo-wer edge I4 of the door tov secure the weatherstrip to the door.

The retractable member or drop 22 is also constructed from sheet metal 0r other Suitable material formed in the shape of an elongated channel with a U-shaped cross section. The side walls or flanges 31 and 38 of the retractable drop member are parallel and have their lower edges connected by a web 39 which forms an integral part thereof. Side walls 31 and 38 are perpendicular to web 39. The ends of the drop member 22 are enclosed by two parallel end walls 49 and 4I formed by bending projections of. the web 39 upwardly and welding or otherwise securing the edges of the end walls formed thereby to the edges of the side walls 31 and 38 at 42, 43, 44 and 45. End walls 49 and 4I are perpendicular to web 39. The side walls 31 and 38, and the end walls 49 and 4I of the drop 22 are spaced apart so that the drop freely telescopes within the housing 2|. Web 39 has holes 46 formed therein directly beneath the holes 35 formed in web 25 of housing 2| so that a screw-driver may be inserted through holes 46 and engage screws 36. A sealing strip 41 constructed of rubber impregnated canvas, felt or other suitable material is fastened to the lower surface of web 39 by means of metal screws 48 so that the sealing strip may be removed to permit the insertion of a screwdriver through holes 46 when attaching the weather strip to the door. Tongues 49 are struck from web 39 and are disposed at right angles to web 39. Tongues 49 t freely into recesses in the ends of rods 59, said rods being pivoted to tongues 49 by means of cotter pins 5I which pass through holes in the rods and tongues. Rods 59 extend upwardly through holes 52 in web 25. Washers 53 are disposed at the upper ends of rods 59 and are held in place by cotter pins 54 passing through holes in the upper ends of rods 59. Compression springs 55 are disposed around rods 59 and between washers 53 and web 25. Theretractable drop member 22 is continually urged upwardly into housing 2I by springs 55, and when the drop 22 is telescoped into housing 2I as far as it can go, its lower sealing surface is flush with the lower edges of walls 23, 24, 29 and 39 of housing 2|.

Bearing plates 56 and 51 are constructed of sheet metal formed with a U-shaped cross section. Web 58 of bearing plate 56 is rigidly attached to web 25 of. housing 2l by means of rivets 59, or other suitable means, at a point approximately midway between end walls 29 and 39 of housing 2I. Web 69 of bearing plate 51 contacts web 39 of drop 22. Flanges 6I and 62 of bearing plate 56 and anges 63 and 64 of bearing plate 51 have bearings 65 and 66 formed at their midpoints the axes of said bearings running substantially at right angles to the housing walls 23 and 24. I-Iolesy 61 and 68 are struck in the centers of webs 58 and 69 respectively. Tubular member 69 is collapsed at one end to form a flat portion 19 which has bearing 1I and slot 12 formed therein. Links 13 are constructed from sheet metal and connect the bearing points 95, 69, 1I and 14, forming a pantographic configuration. Bearing 14 slides freely in slot 12. Rivets form the pivotal member at the bearing points 65, 66, 1I and 14. Groove 15 is formed in the flat portion 19 of the tubular member 69, said groove engaging the rivet at bearing 65. The purpose of groove 15 and holes 61 and 68 is to provide a minimum distance between webs 56 and 51 when the pantographic linkage device is collapsed. By means of this pantographic linkage device, longitudinal displacement of tubular member 69 is translated into vertical displacement of bearing plate 56 with respect to bearing plate 51. With bearing plate 56.` rigidly attachedtoweb `25 ofthe housing 2| and bearing plate 51 contacting web 39 of drop 22, any downward movement of'bearing plate 51 with respect to bearing plate 56 pro jects the drop 22 out of the housing 2| against the action of springs 55. Rod 16 is freely slidable within tubular member 69. Theend of the tubular member 69 is positioned adjacent to the inner side of wall 4I of drop 22' when the drop is 'in its fully retracted position. Rod 16 has a pin `11 positioned at right angles to its axis, said pin extending through slots 18 located diametrically opposite each other and formed in the Walls of tubular member 69. Pin 11 is freely slidable in slots 19. V'Spring 19 is disposed in the tubular member 69 between the end of rod'16 andrivet 89 positioned diametrically across tubular member 69.. Spring 19 operates only when the down--VV ward movement of drop22 is stopped. Rod 16 passes through guide hole 8| in end wall 39 of housing 2|. End wall 4| of drop 22 has a groove at 82 formed in its upper edge, said groove engaging rod 16 when drop 22 is fully retracted-into housing 2 I. in the end of rod 16 which is outside of the housing 2|, said roller being rotatable on pin 84 positioned through the sides of the slot.

The spring 55, which is positioned between the rear edge I2 of. door I0 and the pantographic device, is nearer to the pantographic device than is the spring 55 which is positioned between the front edge |3 of the door I0 and the pantographic device. The purpose of this unequal spacing of springs 55 with respectto the'pantographic device is to cause the end of the drop 22 nearest the rear edge I2 of the door Il] to be projected rst and retracted last.

A metal plate 85 is attached to door frame jamb I 5 by means of screws 86 and positioned so as to contact the roller 83 dispose-d on the end of rod 16 when thedoor I is brought to its closed position. The contacting surface of plate 95 is curved so that the axes AB of rod 16 is always at right angles to the tangent CD at the point of contact 95 of the curved surface of plate 85 withY the roller 83. Roller 83 permits the end of rod'16 to travel freely along thesurface of plate 85 as the door I9 is being brought to its closed position. In this way the force employed to operate the Weather strip mechanism is substantially applied inthe direction of and along` the axis of rod v16A with no substantial components 4ofthe forceacting at right angles to the axis of the rod 16. i

Fig. 6 shows a method of forming. the housing of my invention where the door or closure is constructed of sheet Vmetal instead of solidwood.

The side and front-edge' walls of the lower portion of the door form the side'and front-end walls respectively of the housing of the weather strip. In Fig. 6, 81 and 88-represe`nt'the side walls of the weather strip housing 89. The lower portion of the door is represented by numeral 90. Nu-

meral 9| represents the web: of the channelshaped housing 89, web 9| having a portion bent downwardly to form the rear-end wall of the housing 89. Web 9| is fastened to brackets 92 by means of screws 93, said brackets being disposed at spaced points along the sides 81 and 88 and rigidly attached to said sides by welding o-r other means. The front vertical edges of sides 81 and 88 are integrally connected by welding 'or otherwise to the vertical edges of the front-end wall of the housing 89. The rear Vertical edges of the side walls 81 and 88 are formed around the rear-end wall of housing 89 and removably Roller 83 is disposed in a slot formed attached thereto. Drop 22 telescopes into housing 89'in the same manner as it did into housing 2| designed to be attached'to wood doors.

The 'weather and carpet strip illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is a -completely assembled unit with the exception of the sealing member 41 'which is fastened in place after the unit is 'attached to the wood door.

Tomount the weather strip unit the lower portion II vof the door "must be sawed off so that with the unit in place and the drop 22 fully retracted within housing 2|, the lower surface of the sealing strip 41 of the drop 22 will easily clear any rugsor carpet disposed on the floor over which'the door swings." Holes 94 are then drilled in the lower marginal portion II of the door to provide space for springs 55. The housing 2| is then attached to the lower edge I4 of the door by means of screws, access to said screws beingprovided through holes 46 in web 39 o-f drop 22. After the Weather strip has been mounted on the door, the sealing strip 41 is fastened in place b-y means of screws 48. Plate 85 is fastened to jamb I of the door frame I6 by means of 'screws 86 in a position so as to contact roller 83 of rod 16 as shown in Fig. 4.

In weather strip units for use with metal doors of the type illustrated in Fig. 6, the assembled unit is the same as that employed on wood doors except thatV web 9|, which has a portion bent downwardly to form the rear-end wall of the housing 89, is the only part of housing 89 which forms a part of the assembled unit. No drillings forholes to accommodate springs 55 are'required for metal doors since the springs merely extend,

into the free space within the lower portion 9|] of the metal door.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Let us start with the doorIU in the open position with respect to door frame I6. As door IIl is brought toward its closed position, roller 83 contacts the curved surface of plate 85 just about the time the rear edge I2 of door I0 is beginning to swing over sill I9. The pressure of roller 83 against plate 85 causes rod 16 tomove forwardly. Since spring 19 is very stiff, the motion of rod 16 is transferred to tubular member 69 witho-ut compressing spring 19. The forward motion of tubular member 69 is translated by the pantographic linkage device into vertical downward motion of bearing plate 51 with respect to bear-v ingl plate 59. Bearing plate 51 presses against web 39 of drop 22 forcing drop 22 downwardly, thereby compressing springs 55. The unequal spacing of springs 55 from the pantographic de- Vice causes the rear end .of drop 22 to proceed downwardly before the front end of drop 22 and contact" sill I9. In this manner the frontend of drop 22 isallowed to' be raised so as to clear carpets or rugs disposed on the floor `I8 over which the door III swings as long as the front edge I3 of door III is over the oor I8 and not over sill I9. From the time the rear edge I2 of door I0 starts swinging over sill I9 until the front edge I3 is entirely over sill I9, drop 22 is being projected downwardly at an angle. whose apex is the contact point of the rear end of drop 22 and the sill I9. When door I6 is completely closed the entire sealing surface of sealing strip 41 is in contact with the surface of sill I9, and this is true even if the lower edge I4 of door IIJ is not parallel to the upper surface of the sill I9. When the sealing strip 41 of drop 22 is fully in contact with sill I9 and drop 22 cannot move downwardly any further, spring 19 is compressed by further forward motion of rod 16, thereby providing a safety release feature and at the same time maintaining a sealing pressure between sealing strip 4l and sill I9. This safety release feature is important in case some foreign object becomes disposed between the sill I9 and the drop 22, and also eliminates the necessity for adjusting the weather strip for Variations in the included space between the lower edges of the side walls 23, 24, 29, and 39 of the housing 2| and the sill I9 due to shrinkage of the wood member of the closure, or settling of the threshold. When door H) is opened, rod 'I6 moves rearwardly allowing springs to expand and retract drop 22 into housing 2l. The front end of drop 22 is drawn upwardly before the rear end of drop 22.

The construction of my invention prevents water and dirt from getting into the operating parts and obstructing their smooth operation.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of the subjoined claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged at one edge thereof to said frame, of a weather and carpet strip positioned below the lower marginal portion of said door for closing substantially the entire space between the lower edge of the door and its subjacent threshold, said weather and carpet strip comprising an elongated channel-shaped housing having a web removably attached to the lower edge of the lower marginal portion of said door and upwardly disposed with respect to flanges perpendicular to said web and spaced so as to be flush with corresponding faces of the door, an elongated channel-shaped sealing drop having a web downwardly disposed with respect to flanges perpendicular to said web and spaced so as to permit the drop to freely telescope into projected and retracted positions Within said housing, means for projecting the sealing drop out of the housing when the door is closed and thereby bringing the lower sealing strip thereof into yielding engagement with its subjacent threshold, and means for retracting the sealing drop Within the housing when the door is opened.

2. In a weather strip attached to a marginal portion of a closure movable relative to a frame, said Weather strip closing the space between said marginal portion of the closure and the corresponding adjacent portion of said frame in the closed position of the closure, the combination of those parts consisting of a rotatable bearing positioned in the contacting portion of the operating member cooperating with the said weather strip mechanism and the closure frame, and a contact member mounted on the closure frame, said Contact member having a curved contact surface cooperating with the rotatable bearing on the said operating member so that the lengthwise axis of said operating member is substantially perpendicular to the tangent to the curved contact surface at the point of contact with the rotatable bearing for all positions of the closure while contact is established between the contact member and the rotatable bearing.

3. In a weather and carpet strip attached to a marginal portion of a closure movable relative to a frame, said Weather strip closing the space between said marginal portion of the closure and the corresponding adjacent portion of said frame in the closed position of the closure and comprising a housing, a sealing drop capable of telescoping freely into projected and retracted positions within said housing, and an operating member coacting with the closure frame, that part comprising four links, each link having a plurality of rigid members, said links arranged in pantographic form with their ends pivotally joined, two opposite joints pivotally attached to the said housing and sealing drop respectively, a third joint pivotally attached to said operating member, and the pivot of the fourth joint, opposite the third joint, movable in a slot formed in the operating member parallel to the lengthwise axis thereof, said pantographic linkage device rapidly projecting the sealing drop straight out of its housing when the closure approaches its closed position in its frame.

4. The combination with a frame and a closure movable relative to said frame, of a weather strip for closing substantially the entire space between the marginal portion of said closure and the corresponding adjacent portion of said frame in the closed position of said closure, said weather strip comprising an elongated channel-shaped housing removably attached to the marginal portion of said closure, having a web inwardly disposed with respect to flanges perpendicular to said web, said flanges spaced apart so that their surfaces are flush with the corresponding adjacent surfaces of the sides of the marginal portion of said closure, an elongated channel-shaped sealing member having a web outwardly disposed with respect to flanges perpendicular to said web, said flanges spaced apart and positioned adjacent to the flanges of said housing so as to permit said sealing member to freely telescope into projected and retracted positions within said housing, means for projecting the sealing member out of the housing when the closure is closed and thereby bringing said sealing member into yielding engagement with its adjacent threshold, and means for retracting the sealing member into the housing when the closure is opened.

LAURENCE E. VOORHEES. 

